Over 60,000 Auctions

SportsWanted · September 28, 2008 1:18PM

SportsWanted.com
Official Newsletter
Issue # 3

Auction Spotlight

We are starting to dedicate a section in our newsletter to a few PRIME auctions that are listed currently on our site. We are excited to launch this brand new section off with the following items. All 4 items in the spotlight this week come from Hollywood Collectibles.

Michael Phelps Olympic Autographed / Signed Speedo Swimming Cap

Michael Phelps Olympic Autographed / Signed Swimming 16x20 Photo

Michael Phelps Olympic Autographed / Signed Gold Medals Sports Illustrated 16x20 Photo

Babe Ruth Autographed Pacific Coast League Baseball

Top Members

We now have over 60,000 auctions on the site. We would like to take a moment and thank our top members by giving them a quick shout out and let you know a little bit about them.

Moe’s Mint Cards – One our newest members who has stormed onto the site with over 100,000 cards. He has over 46,000 auctions currently running and specializes in all sports. He also has a nice mix of cards available ranging from vintage to current. He just brought his store over from Beckett and unfortunately he was unable to bring over the photos. If you see something you like just drop him an email and he will be glad to forward you a photo on any of his auctions.

Casebusters Sports Cards – Here is one of our most loyal members who really kicked things off in the beginning. He has over 13,000 auctions currently running and specializes mostly in Baseball. If you are looking to fill sets or just find you favorite player check out his store and you’ll be glad you did.

Ogden Sports Cards – Ogden was also with us since the beginning. He has over 2,600 auctions currently running and specializes in Baseball, Football and Hockey. He has taken the time to attach a photo with every auction. He has really put together a nice mix of current stuff for you to check out.

Hollywood Collectibles – Hollywood Collectibles has been a member since the beginning but they just got around to listing some stuff just this weekend. As you can see above they really have nice stuff. They currently have over 800 auctions running. They will also be adding around 9,000 more items in the next several days. They have items ranging from supplies to hobby boxes to top of the line collectibles. They have some amazing stuff listed. If you are into sports collectibles you have to check out their storefront today.

Changes

Auction Listing Fees - Why should you have to pay just to list your item? When we announced that you will “NEVER PAY ANOTHER AUCTION LISTING FEE” we immediately began to see a change. Everyday we talk to collectors who tell us that they are fed up with the way they are treated at the other sites. We feel that over time we will begin to see more and more members who are looking for a positive change.

Search engine optimization - We have hired an outside company to begin working on our SEO needs. We understand the importance of better placement and we are dedicated to making it a reality.

PayPal – We now have a direct payment option available with PayPal between members. You must first set up your PayPal email address in the members area under your personal information. Then when you list an auction you will have the option of choosing PayPal as a means of direct payment from the buyer through you PayPal account. The PayPal link will take the buyer directly to your account for easy payment.

New Categories – We have now added a “Graded” category under each sport. Once you choose the “Graded” category you are then asked which company graded the item. This will make searching for graded items easy and possible while we work on our 3 character search issue.

We have also added a “Vintage” category under each sport. This will allow members to access and search vintage cards without having to sift through all the current stuff on the site. Members must use these new categories when listing their items for these changes to be effective.

Our Mission

Our mission is to deliver a quality product at a low cost to our members. Our site was designed with the sports collector’s needs in mind. Anyone who has had any dealings with us knows that are commitment to customer service is only exceeded by our commitment to the hobby. We are here to help collectors find a place to have fun, research information, network and conduct business. As we have said before we are not out to conquer the market we are only out to help make it a better place.
If you have any questions and/or feedback about any of the information in this newsletter or about the site please email me at allen@sportswanted.com. Here at SportsWanted.com your opinion matters and we listen. Thanks for your support and we hope you enjoy the site.

Leiascards · September 28, 2008 1:25PM

How many sales?

Where are the completed auctions viewable at? I would be more than willing to list some stuff if they were viewable

SportsWanted · September 28, 2008 1:50PM

There is a back way to see the sold auctions that are not deleted yet. I delete the auctions once they are paid. We have had about a dozen auctions sell so far. If you go to the main page and click on the word search it will bring up a detail search page. Use the drop box that says view results choose closed auctions then click the down arrow on the max bid section and you will see the remaining 2 auctions that are pending payment that I haven't deleted yet.

We are continueing to gain ground everyday. We know that it will take some time to grow. With over 60,000 auctions less than 4 weeks in we are very happy with the direction we are heading!!

StopYurWhining · September 28, 2008 2:03PM

WinPitcher · September 28, 2008 4:59PM

Geeze Whining that was clever.

Steve

elsnorto · September 28, 2008 5:13PM

Allen,

I fear you have screwed the pooch with the no listing fees... while it may bring more sellers and/or listings to the site... the vast majority of it is clutter.

I see a wealth of 1991 Pacific football commons listed for $0.40 a pop for example. All of which makes it harder to find anything by way of searches.

You need fees, at least nominal ones, to keep listings and asking prices honest.

Yahoo blew their chance to take a chunk of eBay's business this same way unfortunately.

If your definition of success is to demonstrate a higher number of listings to lure advertisers... kudos. If it is buyers drawn to such listings and transactions taking place as a result... condolences.

Fees can serve a purpose, they just need not be as exhorbinant as eBay imposes.

I am rooting for you, Alan, but I fear this move is not serving the site well if the goal truly is e-commerce.

Snorto~

pandrews · September 28, 2008 6:33PM

<< <i>Allen,

I fear you have screwed the pooch with the no listing fees... while it may bring more sellers and/or listings to the site... the vast majority of it is clutter.

I see a wealth of 1991 Pacific football commons listed for $0.40 a pop for example. All of which makes it harder to find anything by way of searches.

You need fees, at least nominal ones, to keep listings and asking prices honest.

Yahoo blew their chance to take a chunk of eBay's business this same way unfortunately.

If your definition of success is to demonstrate a higher number of listings to lure advertisers... kudos. If it is buyers drawn to such listings and transactions taking place as a result... condolences.

Fees can serve a purpose, they just need not be as exhorbinant as eBay imposes.

I am rooting for you, Alan, but I fear this move is not serving the site well if the goal truly is e-commerce.

Snorto~ >>

try "-pacific" in your search..

lsutigers1973 · September 28, 2008 11:15PM

I agree with Snorto. Need to have at least a $0.10 flat listing fee that must be paid immediately with a CC. Would keep a lot of the junk auctions away. I was interested to see how everything would look after you got a few listings. The first one I saw was a 1981 Donruss Rod Carew for $50. I haven't looked since.

mtcards · September 29, 2008 1:10AM

Do a reverse ebay. Charge a 10 cent listing fee and then refund it if sold. That way if you put a decent card up at a decent price, you will sell your item and basically have no listing fee. I noticed the many commons listed on the site too, in fact pages of them.

SportsWanted · September 29, 2008 6:51AM

While I agree with the point that having FREE listing fees will bring out more commons and possibly more junk. I also feel that over time the people who list the commons or junk will grow tired of it simply not selling. The move to do away with the listing fees actually came from feedback I received from several members on this site and I think by having a nice variety of items on the site we will be able to attract more buyers.

Since we have done away with the listing fees we have actually attracted more serious sellers. Most of the commons you have mentioned have been on the site since we launched. In fact the latest members to put their items on the site have actually brought on some really nice stuff. Check out Moe's Mint Cards and Hollywood Collectibles. Moe’s only down side was he was unable to bring 46,000+ photos over with his items. He has made it clear that if anyone would like a photo of any of his auctions he can forward it on by email. He has a really nice variety of cards. And Hollywood Collectibles have a lot of really nice stuff ranging from supplies, cards, boxes and memorabilia.

Let’s give it some time and see how it goes. I think with the changes at Ebay and Beckett we will continue to gain ground as a good alternative for good collectors!!

Leiascards · September 29, 2008 7:01AM

You would think you would get a link to your site in these ads here..

SportsWanted · September 29, 2008 7:02AM

Yeah... What's up with that?

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